Guwahati: In a major push towards cleaner and eco-friendly railway travel, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has set up a state-of-the-art Bacteria Inoculum Generation Plant and Testing Laboratory at the Kamakhya (KYQ) Coaching Depot in Guwahati.
This development positions NFR as the first railway zone in the country to combine both production and quality assurance of Bio-toilet inoculums under one roof.
The new facility, inaugurated this month, aims to significantly enhance the performance of Bio-toilets—an essential component of Indian Railways’ mission to promote sustainable and hygienic sanitation on trains. At the core of these Bio-toilets is the Anaerobic Microbial Inoculum (AMI), a bacterial solution that breaks down human waste, making sanitation systems onboard more effective and environment-friendly.
With a daily production capacity of 2,000 litres, the Kamakhya plant not only reduces the cost of inoculum production but also ensures DRDO-certified quality standards. A dedicated in-house testing lab will monitor the quality of the AMI weekly, ensuring its efficacy before it is supplied to coaches.
In March 2025 alone, over 35,000 litres of inoculums were distributed across all NFR depots, improving the reliability and maintenance of Bio-toilets throughout the zone.
“This integrated facility is a game changer in our efforts to offer cleaner and more hygienic travel experiences to passengers,” an NFR spokesperson said, adding that the initiative also strengthens Indian Railways’ larger Swachh Bharat and Swachh Train missions.
The Kamakhya facility complements other key cleanliness initiatives across NFR’s network, including Onboard Housekeeping Services (OBHS) for en-route cleaning and the use of mechanized cleaning systems at stations and maintenance depots.
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